Who was the youngest US president? He's immortalized on Mount Rushmore.
Since the nation's founding the United States has had 46 presidents. Twenty-one states have been the birthplace of presidents. Virginia has produced eight commanders-in-chief – the most of any state – including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
But who takes the crown for the youngest and oldest in office? You've got to be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen and a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years to run. Here are the record-breaking presidents to know.
Who was the youngest president?
According to The White House, the youngest person to have ever served as president was President Theodore Roosevelt.
Roosevelt, who was the 26th president from 1901 to 1909, was 42 years and 322 days old when he assumed the office of the presidency on Sept.14, 1901, according to World Atlas.
Roosevelt became president after the assassination of President William McKinley on Sep. 6, 1901, according to History.com.
As president Roosevelt became known as a “trust-buster” after his successful attempt using the Sherman Anti-Trust act, which had previously been ineffective, to break up the Northern Securities Company, a railroad combination, according to History.com.
The Northern Securities Company had formed a railroad monopoly that violated the Sherman Anti-Trust act, according to Constitutional Law Reporter.
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act declared combinations "in the form of trust or otherwise that was in restraint of trade or commerce among the several states, or with foreign nations" illegal, according to the National Archives. Under the Sherman Act the federal government was authorized to "institute proceedings against trusts in order to dissolve them."
According to the White House, he is also known for getting the U.S. more involved in World politics and for repeating a favorite proverb of his, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”
According to the White House, as the 35th president, President John F. Kennedy, was the youngest person ever elected president. Kennedy was 43 years and seven months old in 1961 when he became president, according to the Constitution Center. Kennedy was also the youngest president to die in office after he was assassinated in 1963.
Who was the oldest president?
The oldest person to serve as president of the U.S. is current President Joe Biden. Biden turned 81 on Nov. 20.
At 78 years and 61 days old at the time of his inauguration, Biden was almost eight years older than the previous record holder. Former President Donald Trump was 70 years and 220 days old when he was sworn in.
How old do you have to be to be president?
Article 2 section I of the Constitution says to be eligible to hold the office of the president an individual must be 35 years old. The Constitution also says an individual must be a natural born citizen and must have been a resident of the U.S. for the last 14 years.
Who is the oldest person to have run for president?
According to Oldest.org, Harold Stassen, the 25th governor of Minnesota, was the oldest person to have ever run for president. Stassen was 85 years, one month and 27 days old during the time of the election. Born April 13, 1907, and died March 4, 2001, Stassen sought the Republican nomination for president nine times between 1948 and 1992, according to the University of Pennsylvania Archives. He never won the nomination to represent his party.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who was the youngest president ever? Record-breaking US leaders.
